THE TORCH:January 2005

THE BOTTOM LINE

Hugh M. Spoljaric, President

Kingston Teachers’
Federation

“Of Geese and
Federations”

(adapted from aftca Catalyst)

I
spent most of the Winter Break in bed with the flu. I’d like to recognize the
former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, for his
inability to succeed at a job that most high school service organizations could
have performed (flu vaccines). While I was resting, I saw some geese flying
overhead in their familiar V-formation. It reminded me of how their unity is
not unlike the unity that we have in our Federation.

FACT: As
each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for
the bird immediately following. By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock
adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. The
TRUTH is that people who share a common direction and sense of community can
get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the
trust of one another.

FACT: Whenever a goose falls out of
formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone
and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of
the bird immediately in front. The TRUTH is there is
strength, power and safety in numbers when traveling in the same direction as
those with whom we share a common goal.

FACT:
When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose
flies to the point. The TRUTH is it pays to take turns doing hard jobs.

FACT: The
geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. The
TRUTH is we all need to be remembered with active support and praise.

FACT:
When a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls out, two geese fall out of
formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until
the crisis resolves, and then they launch out on their own or with another
formation to catch up with the group. The TRUTH is we must stand by each other
in times of need. We must also remember to give each other a big ‘honk’ more
often.

As KTF members, Teachers and ESP, Subs and Retirees, let’s dedicate
ourselves to flapping our wings. If we get tired, let’s remember to rotate
back in the wing. Most especially, during this time of no contracts, whether at
the point or in the back, keep on honking!

And,
that’s the Bottom Line.

BUSH, CONGRESS DENY
BENEFITS

In the December
issue of The Torch, the Trust Fund announced that the trust health plan was
being amended to permit extended coverage of non-student dependents to age 23.
Unfortunately, the Congress and the President were making their own late year
modifications. The Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 amended the
definition of a ‘dependent’ under Code &152 and required that this
definition apply to all welfare plans effective with the tax year ending
December 31, 2004. The law requires that all dependents meet certain residency,
relationship, and age rules.

Presently, the Trust plan covers all fulltime students to age 25 and, as
amended in November, would have covered non-students to age 23. The federal
legislation denies these progressive benefits and reduces the non-student age to
19 and the student age to 23.

NHAI
notified all members of the Trust plan affected by the law on December 23,
2004. Members who have other health insurance coverage should contact the
provider.

Generally, the Working Families Tax Relief Act of
2004 only permits one to claim a ‘dependent’ that meets the following tests for
purposes of welfare benefits: (Otherwise, all benefits are subject to
taxation).

1.The dependent must meet the ‘Relationship
Test’ and be a ‘qualifying child’ or a ‘qualifying relative’ defined as
follows:

a)The taxpayer’s child or a dependent of the
child (grandchild); or,

b)The brother, sister, stepbrother, or
stepsister of the taxpayer or a descendent of any such relative.

2.The dependent must meet the “Age Test” and be
under the age

of 19 as of the
close of the calendar year.

3.After the calendar year in which the
dependent attains the age of 19, if the dependent qualifies as a fulltime
student for at least 5 months out of the calendar year, coverage may be
continued through the calendar year in which the dependent attains age 23, so
long as the dependent remains unmarried and continues to be listed as a legal
dependent on the parent’s tax return. Otherwise, if a fulltime student fails to
meet the definition of a fulltime student as defined in &152 and any
rulings or regulations thereunder; coverage shall be
terminated as of the last day of the month in which the fulltime student status
is met.

4.Any dependent who is determined to be totally
and permanently disabled by reason of physical or mental disability or
impairment and who is incapable of self support prior to attainment of age 19
or who becomes disabled while enrolled as a fulltime student prior to
attainment of age 23, may be covered as a disabled dependent so long as such
disability continues.

5.Special rules apply when two or more claim a
qualifying child as a dependent and for divorced parents. These rules as set
out in the Working Families Tax Relief Act and Code &152 of 2004 shall be
incorporated by reference.

Members with further concerns should contact the
Compliance Office at 888-679-2400.

NOTICE: VOTE/COPE

Over the past
ten years, active KTF members have asked the KTF to negotiate a payroll
deduction plan with the district that would provide for VOTE/COPE payroll
deductions over a series of paychecks. The district was unable to accommodate
the request due to the lack of space on their business machines. Payroll
deduction was taken once from a paycheck in November. Now, with the new
computer system in the district, VOTE/COPE payroll deduction over a series of
paychecks is a reality.

Please take NOTICE of the following:

The only 10 week paycheck period during a calendar year
and within a school year is in the second half of the school year. Active
members will NOT be asked to donate in the Fall of
2005.

Therefore,
deductions for active members for the 2005 VOTE/COPE campaign will be taken
beginning with the first paycheck in February 2005 and continuing through the
next nine paychecks and ending in June.

ALL
CONTRIBUTIONS MUST BE MADE ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTION. NO CHECKS
OR CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED.

If you
are an active member teacher or ESP who donated by cash or check, you need to
obtain a payroll deduction form from your Building Rep and submit it to the Rep
by January 25.

If you
are presently on payroll deduction, the same amount that you donated in the
fall will be taken in ten equal installments. Members who wish to change their
payroll deduction should notify their Building Rep and obtain the necessary
forms and submit them to the Rep by January 25.

We are
aware that there will be two VOTE/COPE drives during this school year as the
transition to ten payroll deductions takes place. Still, there is only one
drive per calendar year. ACTIVE MEMBERS WILL NOT BE ASKED TO DONATE IN THE
FALL OF 2005. The next VOTE/COPE campaign will be in January 2006.

A bonus
to the changeover is that members have the opportunity to double their Key To Fun VOTE/COPE points for the school year.

Retirees
will have their own drive and now have the opportunity to have payroll
deduction through the NYS Teachers’ Retirement System.

TSUNAMI RELIEF

As the Indian Ocean tsunami occurred during the Winter Break
while schools were in recess, AFT and NYSUT are encouraging locals to hold
their own relief efforts.

The KTF
will have a DRESS DOWN DAY on Friday, January 14. Members are encouraged to
donate $5 to the relief effort. Cash or checks made out to KTF will be accepted
by the Building Rep. The KTF Board of Directors will choose an officially
recognized relief agency to accept the donations.

Although
many members may have already given through other organizations, your support
of the KTF effort is most appreciated.

UPAC MEMBERSHIP

As with most
non-profit organizations, cash flow is always a concern. The business still has
to operate during ‘down’ times and it is fool-hearty to depend on day of event
walk-up business to sustain the organization. A solid foundation of dependable
support creates a sustainable organization.

RoseMarieMaresca,
a UPAC Board member and former Treasurer of the KTF, addressed these concerns
to the Board of Directors at their January meeting. Although UPAC has the image
of success, rarely do any of the shows earn enough to support the theater. The
Broadway Theater at the UlsterPerformingArtsCenter needs memberships
to support the theater. Memberships come in five categories beginning at $75
(with one free ticket to a show and one reduced price ticket). They benefit the
member and they benefit the theater. Additional, as a benefit of membership,
members receive advance notice of all shows, security ticket replacement, and
preferred seating to all ten UPAC sponsored shows.

Coming in
March are the FOUR TOPS, the CHARLIE DANIELS BAND, and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.
Among the other seven shows isBARRAGE (youth fiddlers and stompers from Chicago) and HolidayOn Ice.

Membership
means a lot to the theater. It is a vital source of revenue in the operation of
the Broadway Theater. And, as RoseMarie points out, ticket also make great gifts!

Building
Reps have applications. Do it now!

TORCHLIGHT

Special Education Variances

Assistant Superintendent
for Pupil Personnel Sandy Miller has presented the KTF with variance requests
made to the state education department by the district. Prior to 1999, the
self-contained grouping of 12:1:1 was capped at that number. Then, the state
allowed a variance to increase the size to 15:1:1. Now, the state allows the
class to increase during the year to 18:1:1. Requests for variances are granted
without response.

Elementary teachers should be aware that the number of classified
student in each grade level should be dispersed somewhat evenly throughout all
grade level classrooms. Please notify your Principal if you discover a wide
disparity.

Additionally, Consultant Teachers are capped at 20 students and Resource
Room teachers have maximum counts of 20 in K-5 and 25 in 7-12.

As the state continues to revamp
Part 200 Special Education regulations, as of July 1, IEP will not contain any
short-term goals. Additional changes, especially in the area of Learning
Disabled classifications are expected in the spring.

MyerSchool Safety

Teachers and
staff at MyerSchool in Hurley have petitioned the
district on two occasions relative to safety issues at the building. Unlocked
doors and access/egress from the building are concerns. Of great concern also
is the dismissal procedure at Myer. Parents arrive in a long caravan of
vehicles to pick up their children. Teachers are serving as valets, servicing
one car at a time. Teachers have been on duty until 3:20-3:30. The KTF has
presented the concerns to the district.

Teachers
are on dismissal duty until 3 pm and should then be in their rooms until 3:15
preparing for the next day. Any duty beyond these times must become a subject
of negotiations.

Middle Level Scheduling

Assistant
Superintendent for Curriculum Greer Fischer presented the KTF with three
recommendations for middle level scheduling changes for 2005-06. All three were
designed to extend the curriculum day through 9th period, eliminating
an early bus run, and making all activities after school events with a late
bus.

The
issues were discussed with the KTF Board of Directors. There was no support for
the proposals. Reps expressed concerns that, with no contract in place, there
were many unresolved issues that needed to be addressed before any new issues
were brought to the table.

The
district has expressed concerns that more time is needed during the curriculum
day to accommodate Academic Intervention Services. Middle School teachers can
expect to be presented with a resurrected ten period day schedule for 2005-06.

Conference Sub Monies Depleted

Assistant
Superintendent Greer Fischer has informed the KTF that all monies for subs as
they relate to conference requests have been exhausted. The 2004-05 budget cut
$180,000 from these items.

MEDIATION

The KTF
Teachers’ Negotiating Team, now working in their 16th month of efforts to
present and negotiate a new contract, and having declared impasse on November
30, have three mediation sessions scheduled. Mediator David Stein will meet
with both side on January 14, February 4, and February
11.

The
impasse followed an expression by the Board of Education that they didn’t fully
understand some issues. The KTF asked for a meeting with the Board and there
was no positive response and the impasse resulted.